The match saw Brian McBride earn a recall to the side. The reshuffle saw Tomasz Radzinski stationed on the left of midfield with Collin John on the right and Steed Malbranque taking up a central role.

Fulham took the lead in the 6th minute when a loose piece of control from Richard Dunne allowed Boa Morte to sprint clear. The Portuguese international squared the ball to Malbranque and the Frenchman had the simple task of tapping home from close range.

Fulham continued their bright opening when Radzinski came close to getting on the end of a teasing delivery into the box.

Malbranque was enjoying the freedom of the Craven Cottage pitch in the early exchanges, no doubt buoyed by his goal scoring start. However, he was almost taken out of the game when Joey Barton raked his studs down Malbranque’s shin. The City midfielder earned a yellow card for his trouble.

Another opening almost presented itself to the Whites when David James lost his bearings with a high ball. The big stopper reached up with one hand and palmed the ball back across the face of goal where, unfortunately, no white shirt was within range.

Man City were back on level terms on 20 minutes when Lee Croft placed his shot over the advancing Tony Warner. The opportunity arose when the ball was fed into the path of Barton, who played a well-directed first touch pass to Croft who had moved into space down the left of Fulham’s defence.

Undeterred by the equaliser, Fulham continued to press and a fine passing move allowed John to fire a shot in on goal. James had to be equal to the task as McBride was lurking, looking for any scraps.

Luis Boa Morte was next into the referee’s book on 39 minutes when Barton went down clutching his face after a tussle. A brief exchange between Boa Morte and Mills followed but it is unclear as to whether the Portuguese international was booked for his clash with Barton or the exchange with Mills.

Fulham retook the lead moments later when Boa Morte spotted Malbranque making a run beyond the City defence. A delightful through ball was rolled just in front of Malbranque and he calmly rounded James to prod home.

City started the second half looking the more threatening and could have scored the equaliser but Andy Cole’s mistimed header sailed over the bar. Soon after Tomasz Radzinski showed good pace to beat his man down the wing and deliver a cross which McBride just couldn’t reach.

Both sides were looking dangerous as Fulham looked to extend their lead and the visitors hoped to get back into the match. Tomasz Radzinski struck the woodwork just before the hour mark when he ran on to McBride’s flick on and tried to beat James at the near post.

The game had, by now, taken on a scrappy but entertaining feel to it. James had to produce a fine double save to first keep out John then McBride and Fulham continued to press. The England stopper first reacted well to keep out John’s volley then bravely spread himself at the feet of the advancing McBride to smother the American’s effort.

Heidar Helguson replaced McBride on 76 minutes and had an almost instant impact as he won the ball against the odds, broke through two tackles before laying a pass off. Helguson was again in the wars just moments later when he robbed Sibierski with a good tackle before winning the free kick.

Fulham were given a nervy final few minutes when City applied the pressure with a series of set pieces and crosses. Bradley Wright-Phillips had the ball in the net but thankfully, the striker had strayed into an offside position.

City desperately tried to pull one back as they sent everyone forward, James included, for a late free kcik. However, when the City goalkeeper lost possession, the race was on to advance on City's empty goal. Boa Morte surged forward, with City desperately trying to regroup. The ball was played to Malbranque who, in turn, fed it on to Radzinski. With an open goal at his mercy, the Canadian horribly dinked his shot and a recovering defender was able to clear for a corner. Thankfully it wasn’t a costly miss as the final whistle blew moments later.